I Just Want To Eat! 9/17/18 I Just Want To Eat! 9/17/18

Farm to Table Dinner at The Marshall in Hell's Kitchen

I cannot believe I missed The Marshall for so many years, this place having been opened since 2013. It is probably because I often went for dinner in Hell’s Kitchen on 9th Avenue and started to go on 10th more and more this year, discovering true gems there. And The Marshall is one of them. Imagine: we went there for brunch on a Saturday and returned the following Tuesday to try their dinner. That is telling!

Dining room at The Marshall in Hell's Kitchen

I love the place that has a true neighborhood feel with the only negatives being the noise level and light that is slightly too dimmed. The concept? Farm to table and promoting sustainability. The food is cooked in a wood fire oven and the food is sourced from local farmers, the wine from local wineries and the liquors from local distilleries. Before talking about what we had, i should mention that the name of the restaurant has nothing to do with law enforcement per se and comes from the name of the Chef Charlie Marshall who grew up in a farm, shaping his farm to table concept.

Kitchen at The Marshall in Hell's Kitchen

Know that it is not a large place so I suggest booking a table especially when you go for dinner. They have few tables outside but in the summer I like my A/C...The decor fits the theme and i love the reclaimed wooden tables that I admit are a bit small if you decide to share dishes.

Here is what we had.

Brunch:

The homemade biscuits are a must have. They are served with sour cherry preserves from Beth’s Farm Kitchen and a house made butter (I know: I put a lot of it...).

Biscuits at The Marshall in Hell's Kitchen

Wood oven grilled cheese. Normally it has wood oven roasted bacon in it; so, as Jodi is vegetarian, i asked for the bacon on the side and put it in the grilled cheese after the fact. It is made with a 7-grain bread and NY white cheddar. It was good but could have been melted longer. Definitely the bacon makes it even better...it was simply served with Fork potato chips.

Grilled cheese at The Marshall in Hell's Kitchen

The oven baked Mac and cheese. Normally, they have bacon in it and we asked them to make it without any. It was made with Pennsylvania Swiss cheese and corkscrew pasta: creamy, it was delicious and I did not even miss the bacon. Well in fact, it stands on its own and I think that they should offer it vegetarian with the bacon being an option.

Oven baked Mac and cheese at The Marshall in Hell's Kitchen

Oven backed Mac and cheese at The Marshall in Hell's Kitchen

Dinner:

For dinner, I started off with a glass of whiskey from their interesting local selection. My pick? A distillery in Brooklyn called Widow Jane that uses water from their cave in Rosendale, NY, a water that has apparently unique chemical properties. I chose their 10 year Bourbon that received tons of awards, like the New York Distilled Spirits Competition - Bourbon Category Gold. I definitely need to visit that distillery as I saw that they have tours.

10 y/o Widow Jane Bourbon at The Marshall in Hell's Kitchen

Then we shared the homemade loaf of bread with house made butter that was very good unfortunately as I could not stop eating it as we waited for our dishes (I cannot resist bread when it is good). It is not free and I was thinking that they could offer it, even a smaller portion rather than having dinners pay for it. It might be because I am so used to have a bread basket in restaurants that I am always surprised when you are charged for it.

Homemade bread at The Marshall in Hell's Kitchen

We then shared the burrata that was served with pesto, wood oven roasted garlic and pearl onion confit, and roasted cherry tomatoes. The burrata from John Fazio Farm was deliciously creamy and divine paired with the tomatoes and garlic.

Burrata at The Marshall in Hell's Kitchen

Roasted tomatoes at The Marshall in Hell's Kitchen

Roasted garlic at The Marshall in Hell's Kitchen

Next were the entrees. Jodi got the Bulich Farm Roasted Portobello Mushroom salad that was composed of baby arugula, micro mix, goat cheese, polenta croutons and a balsamic vinaigrette.

Mushroom salad at The Marshall in Hell's Kitchen

On my side, I hesitated between the lamb shank and the oven roasted meatloaf. I finally went for the latter as I might have had meatloaf once and was thinking that it would probably be a good one as made with sirloin, flank and chuck. It was stuffed with mozzarella, parsnip, turnip, carrot, kale and an onion gravy. Quite big, it looked fantastic and was really good, not dry, with a nice char on the outside. However, I did not really like the stuffing (fortunately there was not much) and wished there was some tomato sauce. Despite this, I would order it again and recommend it if you go there.

Meatloaf at The Marshall in Hell's Kitchen

Last was dessert: we could not resist ordering their S'mores that are cooked in the oven. Delicious, it was quite comforting and a great way to end a succulent dinner.

S'mores at The Marshall in Hell's Kitchen

Overall we had great meals at The Marshall. The only negative is the noise level that is a bit high for dinner. But, despite that, I would go back!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

The Marshall - 628 10th Avenue, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 9/14/18 I Just Want To Eat! 9/14/18

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in Hell's Kitchen

I love chicken: fried, pan seared, rotisserie, you name it. I discovered fried chicken in the US many years ago in a Southern cuisine restaurant and was blown away. Well, it has to be good: crispy with the chicken perfectly cooked and moist. The coating should also not overpower the taste of the chicken by having too much seasoning and I like when it is slightly greasy. So I was excited to try the second location of Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken that opened few months ago in Hell’s Kitchen and the cafeteria style joint lived up to my expectations.

Dining room at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in Hell's Kitchen

The menu is tricky because there are many choices there for cuts: thighs, drumsticks, wings or tenders. And if you prefer, you can go for a sandwich. I tried a few. Here we go:

First I’ll start with the drinks: they have beer so I went for a Guinness that, not surprisingly, was not as good in a can than it is on tap.

Guinness beer at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in Hell's Kitchen

Chicken livers and caramelized onions: fantastic! The livers were well cooked, not dry and I loved the added sweetness of the onions.

Chicken livers and caramelized onions at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in Hell's Kitchen

Blue Ribbon sandwich: crispy chicken with lettuce, tomato and pickled cucumber on a toasted bun. Although I liked the chicken that was very tasty, I thought it was overall a bit bland, wondering if they forgot to put their Blue Ribbon sauce...So I added some wasabi honey on it and it was better.

Blue Ribbon sandwich at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in Hell's Kitchen

The 4 piece mix, that is fried breast, whole wings, thigh and drumstick. It was superb: the chicken was one of the best fried chicken I had, being as I mentioned before: crispy and moist.

4 pieces mix at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in Hell's Kitchen

It was served with delicious fries: thin cut like I love them (sorry I am not a bit fan of steak fries), crispy and cooked all the way through.

French fries at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in Hell's Kitchen

As sides, I tried the Cole slaw that came with the chicken as well as the pickled cucumber, both good.

Cole slaw at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in Hell's Kitchen

Pickles at Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in Hell's Kitchen

It was a very good dinner: if you like fried chicken, Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken is a place not to miss, even if New York has institutions like Sylvia's where it is not just about the chicken, but also the history of the place.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken - 749 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 9/12/18 I Just Want To Eat! 9/12/18

Paulie Gee's in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Some consider Paulie Gee’s in Greenpoint the best pizza in New York and, considering the line in front of it on a Saturday at 5pm, they are not just a few! Jodi tried to go last Tuesday with her friends but it was difficult to get a table so they ended up in a different pizza joint. So we decided to try, last Saturday, thinking that at 5pm, when they open, there would probably not be that many people, the crowd probably enjoying some happy hour elsewhere. We were wrong: we arrived at 5:05pm and there was a line outside. By the time we made it to the desk, they told us there would be an hour to an hour and a half wait. As we were there, we decided to wait in the crowded bar area, not wanting to just put our name on the list and come back later, a miracle always being possible.

Dining room at Paulie Gee's in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

I then grabbed a beer at the bar, a Greenpoint Runner, that I gave up trying to photograph, the place being very dark and crowded. I liked that amber ale and sipped it slowly, enjoying the moment. And you remember that miracle I mentioned before? It happened. At some point, a group of 5 people got their table and we replaced them at the bar. The barman then asked us if we wanted to eat there instead of waiting for a table and we did not hesitate, being there for already 40 minutes. After the beer was root beer that I love with pizza and Jodi got a Boylan grape soda.

Boylan sodas at Paulie Gee's in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

The menu at Paulie Gee’s is all about pizza cooked in their brick oven. Know that they also offer vegan options, but no gluten free. Paulie Gee’s is known for their specialty pizza with creative and funny names like Grapeful Dead with pickled grapes or Anise and Anephew with fennel and anisette. But we decided to go with some more classic as Jodi is vegetarian and I am not that thrilled with arugula on my pie...It took a while the get our order and it finally came! The first one was the Brian de Palma, made with Italian tomatoes and Parmigiano Reggiano.

Brian de Palma pizza at Paulie Gee's in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

The second was the Not the Quattro Formaggi, that is on their secret menu. It is composed of fresh mozzarella, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano, and Gorgonzola. Yes, 5 cheese, hence the name.

Not the quattro formaggi at Paulie Gee's in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

The pizza itself was good, puffed up on the sides with a nice char, but I found that I had better tomato sauce and more decadent 1, 4 or 5 cheese pizza like the burrata pizza at Annabelle. Don’t get me wrong: it was good, but I do not think it is the kind of place that is absolutely necessary to try, preferring Luzzo’s, Da Mikele by Luzzo, Keste or Annabelle mentioned before.

Enjoy(I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Paulie Gee’s - 60 Greenpoint Avenue, New York, NY 11222

I Just Want To Eat! 9/10/18 I Just Want To Eat! 9/10/18

Dinner at Union Square Cafe

I finally made it to Union Square Café, the first restaurant of acclaimed chef and entrepreneur Danny Meyer that reopened in a new location. I am glad it did as I was stunned by the news that it would close. I love the concept that Danny Meyer apparently tried to instill when opening it to make it successful: focus on customer satisfaction that is something I experienced in most of his fine dining restaurants, like Gramercy Tavern or The Modern (I still rave about this place), but also in more casual, like Marta. And I think that the non-tipping part of it is a great idea, allowing everyone in the staff to share the tip, sharing that is otherwise not permitted by law if I remember well. That’s true that we, as diners, when we tip, tip the wait staff, but there are other people we do not see who contribute directly or indirectly to the experience we have.

So here we are on a Friday, at 6:30pm. We got a reservation in the bar area rather than the dining room, but the menu is the same. Service was fine, but we could see that the staff was a bit overwhelmed. Food wise, it was fantastic: each dish was delicious and beautifully plated. Here is what I tried:

As a cocktail, I got the Market Smash, made with Bourbon, Amaro, Strawberry and Mint, a quite refreshing drink.

Market Smash cocktail at Union Square Cafe in NYC, NY

Oysters: the menu was not that clear and I thought there were two kinds instead of four. So, I was surprised to see 12 oysters coming when I asked for 3 of each and expected only 6. I read too fast and was glad to see that the table next to us made the same mistake...The oysters were from:

Peeko, NY
Scorton Creek, MA
Buckley Bay, BC (Canada)
Compass Point, WA

All of them tasted fresh with a different texture that was interesting to compare. I definitely did not regret keeping the dish and not sending it back.

I then tried their Peking Duck breast, served with Ruby streaks, cherries and tater tots. The duck was sublime, perfectly cooked, with a slightly crispy skin that was delightfully fatty. I always love when duck is paired with something sweet like honey or fruit and was not disappointed.

Pekin duck breast at Union Square Cafe in NYC, NY

Tater tots at Union Square Cafe in NYC, NY

Jodi on her side got the Bibb & Red Oak Leaf Lettuce salad, made with gruyere, Dijon vinaigrette and sourdough croutons:

Bibb & Red Oak Leaf Lettuces salad at Union Square Cafe in NYC, NY

And the Sweet Corn Sformato, a sort of Italian custard that was composed of black truffle, sungold tomatoes and chervil. This was very good and a great vegetarian dish.

Sweet corn sformato at Union Square Cafe in NYC, NY

Last was dessert. We hesitated between the banana tart and the S'mores Pavlova. We went for the latter that was made with a toasted marshmallow with inside some ganache, molten cake,
and a Graham Cracker Ice Cream. It looked great and was delicious, not too sweet, a great take on a classic dessert.

S'mores pavlova at Union Square Cafe in NYC, NY

This was a great way to end a wonderful dinner. Union Square Cafe is a great place to know if you want great food in a relaxed atmosphere. I definitely recommend it!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Union Square Cafe - 101 E 19th Street, New York, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 9/7/18 I Just Want To Eat! 9/7/18

Chicken wings at Blondie Sports

I recently went to Blondie Sports on the Upper West Side with one of my colleagues, Michael, who loves chicken wings and recommended the place. I know the area, having gone to the restaurant next door, Burke & Willis, an Australian joint that serves a delicious kangaroo burger.

Blondie Sports Bar is your typical bar with one one side the bar and then a quite dark dining room with multiple screens where people can watch games. I am sure that it is crazy at that point and was glad we went on an off night. There, we ordered some wings, sticking to medium and hot on their spiciness scale that goes up to “ouch” that Michael, who loves very spicy food, said are way too spicy. The wings were delicious: the chicken was well cooked and moist. Interestingly the skin on the medium ones was crispier than the skin on the hot wings. But still, I preferred the hot wings that were hot but not enough to prevent me from eating a bunch of them.

Hot wings at Blondie Sports on the Upper West Side

Medium wings at Blondie Sports on the Upper West Side

We also tried their waffle fries and fried onions combo with cheese sauce that was a good side (there was a lot of it). It was a good way to lower the heat in my mouth, especially after dipping the crispy waffle fries in the cheese. The onions, delightfully greasy, were also a good remedy to the wings spiciness.

Waffle fries and fried onions at Blondie Sports on the Upper West Side

With the meal, I went for an old fashioned that was ok, made with Knob Creek bourbon.

Old fashioned at Blondie Sports on the Upper West Side

Last was dessert and that part was a bit disappointing. They had Ben & Jerry's ice cream (this is vanilla with whipped cream), as well as cheesecake that is not homemade, It was not good and tasted like a cake that is frozen. I think they should switch vendors because it was a bit of a let down.

Vanilla ice cream at Blondie Sports on the Upper West Side

Cheesecake at Blondie Sports on the Upper West Side

Overall I liked Blondie Sports, but I would only go for wings, maybe increasing a bit the heat the next time I go...

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Blondie Sports - 212 West 79th Street, NY 10024

I Just Want To Eat! 9/5/18 I Just Want To Eat! 9/5/18

Amazing dinner at Le Coq Rico

Opened in 2016, Le Coq Rico is the outpost in New York City of the restaurant of the same name in Paris from acclaimed Chef Antoine Westermann. Originally from Alsace in the east of France, Chef Westermann maintained a 3 Michelin Star rating in his restaurant Le Buerehiesel for 31 years until asking the Michelin Guide to remove them, a quite incredible move for a Chef. The name Le Coq Rico is a play on cocorico, the French version of Cock-a-doodle-doo (yes, roosters speak French too!) and is, in the US, a tribute to American farmers and local terroir. In fact, Chef Westermann spent a year before opening the restaurant, traveling in North America, focusing on the Hudson Valley and Pennsylvania, to discover local farmers and understand their philosophy on raising poultry. At Le Coq Rico, it is all about birds, but birds raised responsibly: cage free and hormone free. But if you are vegetarian, it should not be a problem: they have a few dishes and could even accommodate beyond the menu (they proposed to create a plate made with various sides like the famous ratatouille, but Jodi declined).

One thing I recommend if you go there and are not more than two people: sit by the counter so you can watch the kitchen staff preparing the amazing food they serve there. It is mesmerizing and...mouth watering! Enough talking: here is what we had.

I started with their signature old fashioned, made with cognac, rye, rosemary syrup, maple syrup. Well balanced, the sweetness of the maple syrup counteracted well the alcohol content.

Old fashioned at  Le Coq Rico in NYC, NY — Old fashioned at Le Coq Rico in NYC, NY

I then proceeded to get their giblets platter that was composed of duck liver, apple and heart brochette, glazed wings, roasted chicken liver on horseradish toast, spiced croquettes. This was a terrific sampler and I loved each and every bit of it. I really like the fact that they propose this because that way you can get a taste of these offal that are rarely on menus besides chicken liver and wings. They should probably get these glazed wings as an appetizer on its own: they were delicious.

Giblets platter at Le Coq Rico in NYC, NY

Chicken hearts at Le Coq Rico in NYC, NY

I then continued with the Northfolk quail that, for $48, is not cheap but worth it. This small bird is from the Feisty Acres Farm in Southold, NY and raised for 70 days that is much longer than usual (I believe 50 days max. ). Quail are tough to cook because you just need to cook them few seconds more to get a dry meat. But they surely know how to cook it: the dark meat was moist and very flavorful. I appreciated the fact that they gave a wet towel to clean my fingers as they make you comfortable telling you to enjoy eating it with your hands. The quail was served with angel hair fries and a seasonal salad (small but good).

Northfolk quail at Le Coq Rico in NYC, NY

Seasonal salad at Le Coq Rico in NYC, NY

You may wonder at that point what Jodi ate. She had the arugula salad with goat cheese:

Arugula salad with goat cheese at Le Coq Rico in NYC, NY

As well as the oven baked potatoes that were prepared with tomato, lemon and onions. It was delicious.

Oven baked potatoes at Le Coq Rico in NYC, NY

Last was dessert and we finished with fireworks! We got Chef Westermann‘s specialty: the Île Flottante or floating island, a french dessert made with egg whites and crème anglaise (vanilla cream). The spherical whipped egg whites topped with a bit of caramel and sitting on the creme anglaise looked beautiful. Then the first bite was divine: the egg whites had a perfect density, being quite firm, and the creme anglaise was perfectly made: not too liquid, not too thick, with a sublime vanilla taste. This is probably the best Île flottante I ever had!

Overall we had an amazing meal at Le Coq Rico: the food was superb there and, if like me you like poultry, this is definitely your spot.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Le Coq Rico - 30 E 20th Street, New York, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 9/3/18 I Just Want To Eat! 9/3/18

Soul Curry, innovative Indian cuisine in Hoboken, NJ

When Matt & Meera closed few months ago, I was heartbroken: I loved this place and we tried most of their menu, my favorite being the wings, the lamb kati roll, the dal tadka and the old Delhi butter chicken. But, to my surprise, it was just a revamp of the restaurant and Chef Hari Nayak came back with Soul Curry, an innovative Indian restaurant that definitely stands out. New decor and new menu, we already went twice since they opened less than 3 weeks ago and trust me: we will be back! I love the decor with the beautiful painting that dominates the dining room and the exposed brick that gives a nice warmth to this place.

Dining room at Soul Curry in Hoboken, NJ

Food wise, you will find a few classic dishes, but the menu is composed mainly of dishes that are pretty interesting, sort of fusion cuisine, like the burrata butter chicken that is made with tandoori chicken, smoked tomato makhni and burrata, a pairing that is fairly interesting, the creaminess of the burrata balancing the sauce that is full of flavor. And that tandoori chicken was superb: nicely charred, it was still moist.

Burrata butter chicken at Soul Curry in Hoboken, NJ

There are in fact a few dishes with chicken and they even propose a roasted one, half or whole called Amritsari Dhaba roast chicken that is a farm raised chicken cooked with Punjabi masala or the butter chicken lollipop wings that are smothered in a creamy BBQ chili glaze: yes it is messy if you eat with your fingers, but they give you wet towels so you can enjoy these delicious pieces of chicken that were medium spicy and slightly crunchy.

Butter chicken lollipop wings at Soul Curry in Hoboken, NJ

Butter chicken lollipops wings at Soul Curry in Hoboken, NJ

Other appetizers are quite unusual as well. Of course, samosas are classic Indian dishes, but at Soul Curry, they are not the regular ones you see on menus, these being made with phillopastry, and filled with potatoes and vegetables, served with a mint sauce and a tamarind sauce, the latter being my favorite.

But was is unusual is the street food they propose, from the playful pani puri that is these little crispy pockets that you'd better eat in one bite, filled with an avocado salsa, where you will pour a calcutta style lemon puchka dressing. Or the Summer corn bhel, made with roasted and puffed sweet corn, Indian corn flakes that are seasoned and a cumin chili vinaigrette, a fairly refreshing dish.

Similar to Matt & Meera, the Chef is serving the Naanchos, made with naan chips, bhel chutneys, red onion and a masala cheese sauce. A very comforting dish and a nice twist on a classic bar food.

I should mention that the entrees come with basmati rice and you can also get some naan that is really good, charred and fluffy.

Basmati rice at Soul Curry in Hoboken, NJ

They also offer lassi, but only mango, no sweet or salty one. That is fine: their mango lassi that also has cardamon is delicious and they offer a nice quantity of it for $5!

Mango lassi at Soul Curry in Hoboken, NJ

Last is dessert: they propose two. Mango lassi popsicles and gulab jamun creme brûlée. We went for the latter that was pretty good, a interpretation of 2 classic desserts. Although I would love to just have the traditional gulab jamun as it is one of my favorite desserts...

Gulab jamun creme brûlée at Soul Curry in Hoboken, NJ

So we had two great meals at Soul Curry: the food is succulent and the service very courteous. Soul Curry has definitely its place in Hoboken, offering a different kind of Indian cuisine. I for sure recommend it and will come back soon!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Soul Curry - 618 Washington Street, Hoboken NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 8/31/18 I Just Want To Eat! 8/31/18

Greenwich Steakhouse

We recently went to Greenwich Steakhouse, where Chef Victor Chavez, an alumni of Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse, serves various cuts in a modern setting far from your classic Steakhouse. I admit that I am not that impressed by the Smith & Wollensky reference as I never liked that place, having tried it few times for lunch or dinner: poor service and just ok overpriced food coming into mind. But hey, it does not mean that the same would reflect at Greenwich Steakhouse. In fact, the service was courteous and efficient. As far as the food was concerned, it unfortunately did not deliver for me: the steak was not what I expected and the dessert not good. At least I got a good cocktail, The Johnny Prime, made with vanilla infused whiskey, cynar, ruby, port, and mole butters. I should mention that this cocktail is named after a fellow blogger whose blog is mainly about steaks (check it out here).

The Johnny Prime cocktail at Greenwich Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Here is what we ate:

Jodi, being vegetarian, got a wedge salad with additional tomatoes instead of bacon.

Wedge salad at Greenwich Steakhouse in NYC, NY

On my side, I went straight to the entree as I wanted to try their tomahawk and thought it would be massive. On top of that, I wanted to add seared foie gras to it. Unfortunately, they ran out of it. I then asked for bone marrow and was a bit perplexed when the waiter said that the steak comes with it. It did. Several minutes after, a piping hot plate came out with a ribeye and a bone marrow on the side. I admit that I was happy to see the bone marrow but was disappointed that the bone on the steak was short (no, it did not look like a tomahawk). At first the meat was well cooked, medium rare, but, the plate was so hot that it became very quickly medium and dried out a bit.

Tomahawk at Greenwich Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Bone marrow at Greenwich Steakhouse in NYC, NY

As sides, we tried their truffle and rosemary fries that were nicely crispy, as well as the onion rings that were also perfect: crispy and cooked all the way through.

French fries at Greenwich Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Onion rings at Greenwich Steakhouse in NYC, NY

Last was the tiramisu that I did not like at all, not being creamy.

Tiramisu at Greenwich Steakhouse in NYC, NY

So overall I was disappointed with Greenwich Steakhouse. I may let some time pass before trying it again: New York City offers so many options when it comes to steakhouses.

Enjoy (the post)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Greenwich Steakhouse - 62 Greenwich Avenue, NY 10011

I Just Want To Eat! 8/29/18 I Just Want To Eat! 8/29/18

PN Wood Fired Pizza

As we got married on a 8th, we always go out that day and so I decided to find a pizza place as Jodi loves pizza. That is how we ended up at PN Wood Fired Pizza in Chelsea. This is not your classic pizza place: I guess they call themselves the “black Sheep” or Pecore Nere (PN) in Italian because they make pizza a bit differently. They put pride in saying that they do not break the rules, they make them. Considering how good the food was, I have no problem with that!

Dining room at PN Wood Fired Pizza in NYC, NY

Looking at the menu, you would just think that there is nothing special, but in fact they use various organic flours imported from Molino Grassi in Parma, Italy. They are made with ancient grains and they do not refine or enrich them. They are lower in carbs and have higher fiber than others and, as you order your pizza, you pick which flour you want them to use, a description on cards handed to you with the menu helping you to make your choice. Here is what we tried at PN Wood Fired Pizza:

As a drink, I hesitated between some whisky on the rocks as they have a nice selection of whisky from all over the world (you can try Indian or Japanese whisky if you’d like). But then I saw a cocktail made with bourbon: the Scuro. It also had dark rum, lemon, orange blossom syrup and cinnamon syrup. It was quite good: not too strong, well balanced, it had a nice refreshing citrusy taste and a very slight hint of cinnamon.

Scuro cocktail at PN Wood Fired Pizza in NYC, NY

We then ordered the arancini of the day that were made with porcini mushrooms, mozzarella and truffle (probably oil). Served with a pomodoro sauce, it was really good: gooey and crispy, I could have eaten more of those. I just regretted that there were only 4 small balls...

Arancini at PN Wood Fired Pizza in NYC, NY

Next was the charred octopus, served with cherry tomatoes, fennel and Sicilian pistachios. This was fantastic: the octopus was perfectly cooked, not rubbery with a nice char.

Charred octopus at PN Wood Fired Pizza in NYC, NY

Last was the pizza. We chose a square one that would be enough for one person in fact. The D.O.P. seemed to be a good choice. It gets its name from the various products that compose it that are imported from Italy (D.O.P. Stands for Denominazione di Origine Protetta, the Italian term for the EU system of Designation of Origin that protects the name of certain local food from specific origin). This pizza is made with sliced San Mariano tomatoes, mozzarella di buffala, parmigiano reggiano, extra virgin olive oil and basil. For the dough, the chose the Miracolo flour that is described this way:

Grano del Miracolo is an heritage ancient grain cultivated in the Province of Parma, Italy, by Molino Grassi, Grano del Miracolo is rich in minerals, phosphorus, iron and antioxidants and the gluten is more digestible than any other wheat. A soft wheat flour with a distinctive, fragrant and almost sweet flavor profile.

DOP pizza at PN Wood Fired Pizza in NYC, NY

It looked very appetizing with the puffed up sides that had a beautiful char, the middle being thin like a Neapolitan pizza should be. Taste wise it was superb and I could have eaten a full pie. For sure they were not cheap on the cheese as there was plenty of it.

We stopped there and did not have dessert because the service was a bit slow and our food took forever to come. But I would go back there to see what they have and may even try their home made pasta that looked amazing.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

PN Wood Fired Pizza - 2 W 28th St, New York, NY 10001

I Just Want To Eat! 8/27/18 I Just Want To Eat! 8/27/18

Corner Bistro in Long Island City

Corner Bistro, the famous so called “bohemian” pub has a new location in Long Island City. It was not our first target there, going for some Vietnamese food, but, when we saw it, we could not resist. Opened in 1961 in the West Village, this place serves an amazing burger that some have named the best in New York. Yes, it is good for sure: the 8oz patty is tasty and juicy, sitting on a slice of onion that will enhance a bit the flavor of the meat, and squeezed between two pieces of a potato bun that seem too small to hold everything (especially when you put ketchup on it), making the experience delightfully messy.

Cheeseburger at Corner Bistro in Long Island City

And if you are vegetarian, you can opt for the grilled cheese (this one is with cheddar). That is very good.

Grilled cheese at Corner Bistro in Long Island City

Or for the various sides they offer. The fried pickles are delicious and I did not expect to have that much on the plate. So are the fries: shoestring, crispy on the outside and cooked all the way through.

Fried pickles at Corner Bistro in Long Island City

French fries at Corner Bistro in Long Island City

Of course, I have to mention the drinks: it is a pub, so you can get beer, sodas or like me, a mix of the two: I got a root beer that had 5.9% alcohol in it. First time I tried and not the last.

Not Your Father's Root Beer at Corner Bistro in Long Island City

So overall, we had a nice meal there and it was really not expensive. Corner Bistro keeps its promise to satisfy diners hungry for delicious burgers. If you’ve never tried it, check it out!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Corner Bistro - 4718 Vernon Boulevard, Long Island City, New York City, NY 11101

I Just Want To Eat! 8/24/18 I Just Want To Eat! 8/24/18

Stingray Lounge in Hoboken, NJ

I finally made it to Stingray Lounge in Hoboken: I waited for Jodi to have plan for dinner to go, not because I did not want to go with her, but more because of you are vegetarian, this is not really the right place for you. Unless you like cheese...I am sure though that if you ask nicely, the chef will prepare a salad or something you can eat so you do not spend your evening staring at your partner or friends enjoying their seafood.

I sat at the bar, mesmerized by the nice selection of alcohol they have and decided to order the Death Proof cocktail, made with Rittenhouse rye, Amaro Nonino, Salers and orange Bitters.

Death Proof cocktail at Stingray Lounge in Hoboken, NJ

Then, I hesitated: their menu as so many good options that I could not at first decide between the crab cakes, lobster roll or octopus. I finally went for the...seafood platter (The full house). It included 6 oysters (kusshi from Canada, Aunt Dotty from Massachusetts and Sloop Point from New Jersey), 6 clams, 2 shrimp, 1/2 lobster and 6 mussels. It looked good, appetizing and tasted very fresh. My favorite was the oysters, but I admit that their lobster, perfectly cooked and easy to remove from the shell, was delicious.

Seafood platter at Stingray Lounge in Hoboken, NJ

Lobster at Stingray Lounge in Hoboken, NJ

Mussels at Stingray Lounge in Hoboken, NJ

Oyster at Stingray Lounge in Hoboken, New Jersey

Shrimp at Stingray Lounge in Hoboken, NJ

I was still a bit hungry though so I finished with a dessert. They offer two: the chocolate mousse that is apparently a cake rather than a mousse, and a cheesecake. I went for the latter (not made in house). It was good, creamy, but a bit small: I guess I am used to the size of the cheesecake at Junior’s that remains my favorite.

Cheesecake at Stingray Lounge in Hoboken, NJ

Overall the food was very good and I would definitely go back there, this time for the lobster roll or the crab cake...or maybe the octopus. Well for another good dinner!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Stingray Lounge - 1210 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 8/22/18 I Just Want To Eat! 8/22/18

Calle Dão, Cuban-Chinese restaurant

Fusion food is always interesting, not just when people experiment but more when it is part of a culture. So I was curious to try Calle Daõ, a Cuban-Chinese restaurant located close to Bryant Park. It was not my first meal of this sort, having dined in the past few times at La Caridad on the Upper West Side, a much more casual place. I liked the food there, that I found quite creative, but the dimmed lights and loud music spoiled a bit the meal. So if like me you like to see your food and a quieter setting, I suggest you either go for lunch (hopefully quieter) or sit close to the door, on the few tables next to the windows...In terms of food, you can find classic Cuban dishes like yucca fries, plantains, or rice and beans, and then some that stand out and seem more branching out to the two cultures like the goat neck that I would have eaten if it was served with something else than bok choy! But overall, I had a good meal (Jodi was not as enthusiastic as I was, finding her dish a bit bland - I should mention that the vegetarian choices are limited). Here is what we tried:

As a cocktail, Opium, made with Bourbon, tamarind, Ruby red grapefruit, lemon and poppy seeds. Quite good and well balanced, it was not too strong.

"Opium" cocktail at Calle Dão in NYC, NY

Yucca fries: fairly classic but always a crowd pleaser. It was served with their house mojo sauce and a gochujang ketchup that was my favorite of the two.

Jodi had the Mushroom & Broccoli, a dish made with King Oyster, Shiitake Mushrooms, and Chinese Broccoli with Lo Mein Noodles dressed in Garlic Hoisin. She thought it was bland: I did not. For sure it was not the kind of dish that would sweep me off my feet but I found it decent.

Mushroom and broccoli at Calle Dão in NYC, NY

On my side, I went for the black rice seafood paella that was very good, with lots of seafood in it. It was tasty: the rice seemed to have been cooked with the seafood and not put together before serving (I had a bad paella many years ago in Miami where you could tell the rice was cooked separately). However, there was no soccarat, the delicious rice crisp that forms when cooking that makes paella so good.

Black rice seafood paella at Calle Dão in NYC, NY

Last was dessert: we could not have left without ordering one, their menu offering mouth watering options. So we chose the bunuelos, that are like beignets. These were fantastic: hot, not greasy, smothered in Chinese five spice sugar. It was served with a chocolate coconut sauce that I did not really care about, the bunuelos being so good, there was no need for it. Although I admit that since I had churros with condensed milk at Victor’s Café, I am always hoping people would serve condensed milk instead of chocolate...

So we had a good meal at Calle Daõ: I found the food very good and even if the noise level was too high for me, I would go back and better pick my seat...

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like the post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Calle Dao - 38 W 39th Street, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 8/20/18 I Just Want To Eat! 8/20/18

Indian Vegetarian dinner at Vatan in Murray Hill

Serving an all-you-can-eat vegetarian menu inspired from Gujarati cuisine, Vatan is the kind of restaurants that a non-vegetarian person like me would rave about: the food that they serve there is so good and full of flavor that you will forget you are having a vegetarian dinner. I love the concept: for $34 you get a full meal: an appetizer thali (slightly spicy), an entree thali (you can choose between mild, medium and hot) with its sides and desserts. As it is all you can eat, they ask you if you'd like more but trust me: it is so filling that you will not order as much as you think!

Please note that the event was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!

Vatan is quite big with its two rooms (the main dining room and the mezzanine) that have no windows but with a decor that gives you the impression you stepped into a place in India, with its paintings on the wall, its 20 foot tall banyan tree, thatched roofs and big lord Ganesha in the center of the main dining room.

Main dining room at Vatan in Murray Hill

Painting on wall at Vatan in Murray Hill

Know that drinks are not included in the prix-fixe. They have a nice selection of alcohol from India, from beers to whisky, as well as sodas (Jodi got their lime soda that was nice) and the must-have mango lassi that is very good and perfect to soothe your mouth if you have eaten something spicy.

They then served us some snacks as we were waiting for our dishes. Crunchy, they were made with rice flour.

Next was the appetizer thali. As I mentioned before, you cannot change the level of spiciness. But, at the exception of the Mirchi Bhajia, that is a fried hot pepper with chaat masala, it was not that spicy.

Here is what the thali was composed of:

Chana Masala - Garbanzo beans with onions and coriander:

Muthia - steamed flour with spinach

Batatavada - fried potato balls in chickpea flour batter:

Khaman - wheat flour cake:

Samosa - filled with spicy potatoes and onions.

Mirchi Bhajia, that is a fried hot pepper with chaat masala

I admit that I do not remember this one: it was like yellow dal but had potato in it.

Sev Puri - garbanzo beans, yogurt and chutney (my favorite):

The appetizers came with some sauces like the mango chutney that was my favorite, adding a nice sweetness to the dishes. Needless to say that I asked for more sev puri and batatavada that I really liked.

Then was the entree thali that we both asked mild.

It was composed of:

Puri - fried puffy bread:

Toor dal - lentils cooked in spices

Chole - chickpeas cooked in garam masala:

Bhaji - sautéed spinach and corn:

Roti with butter:

Kheer - rice pudding

Ful-Cobi - sautéed cauliflower and peas:

Batakanu sak - potatoes in a mild red gravy:

There was also a papadam that I forgot to take a photo of that was a bit spicy...

The entrees came with some sides: raita (perfect when eating spicy food as it is made with yogurt and soothe a mouth on fire), rice as well as a twice cooked rice that was phenomenal with the raita!

Twice cooked rice at Vatan in Murray Hill

Last was dessert. I admit that we did not ask for more of the entrees as we started to be really full, and were looking forward for the desserts. It was a Malai ice cream that was very good (it had cardamon in it), gulab jamun, one of my favorite Indian desserts, and a masala chai.

We had great time at Vatan: the food was very good and the service on point, courteous and ensuring that we had everything we needed. When we went last year, I had the exact same experience but thought that going there often might not be necessary as they do not change their menu: I was wrong! I would in fact go back there often and, if you think that these are small quantities, trust me: you will need a walk after eating there!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Vatan - 409 3rd Avenue, New York, NY10016

I Just Want To Eat! 8/19/18 I Just Want To Eat! 8/19/18

LSC After Dark Preview Event - Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body

The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City is a great place to learn: it has an amazing setup and their planetarium is awesome. So we were excited when I got an invite for their evening event, LSC After Dark, that takes place every third Thursdays of the month: Grossology - The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body, where you can climb in various parts of the human body (you can see the inside of the nose) or play games that reveal the secrets of boogers, vomit, odors, and more. Yes, it is gross but at the end of the day, it is what we are and be honest: this type of stuff makes people laugh..I have to say it was entertaining as well as educational and I enjoyed it!

Please note that the event was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!

Grossology exhibit at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City

At the same time, during that event, we got to go to the amazing Planetarium (the largest in the Western hemisphere with approx. 400 seats)for an amazing show about planets that ended up with a sky ride that was spectacular and in a preview of their laser show on the rhythm of David Bowie's Let's dance song.

Saturn at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City

Laser show at the Planetarium in The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City

At the same time, we got to eat some great food and cocktails from vendors of Midnight Market, that are just $5 a plate. Here is what we had:

Eemas, Hawaiian cuisine - I tried this place in the last LSC After Dark event I went to: it was the first time I had Spam and found it delicious. They served it with their Thai iced tea that is one of my favorite drinks when I go to a Thai restaurant. But this time, they had a dish for vegetarians: Tempeh Katsu. I admit that I was not sure I would like it as I remember I tried tempeh few years ago at Gobo, that since closed, and I did not like it. But this time I did! Marinated in pineapple and ponzu, and breaded with panko, it was tasty and crunchy.

Thai iced tea from Eemas at LSC After Dark

Tempeh Katsu from Eemas at LSC After Dark

Waffle Totz - Imagine a waffle made with tater tots: extra crunchy and delightfully greasy! They were proposing three different kinds: sweet chili (my fav), Whiskey BBQ and Buffalo Ranch.

Sweet chili at Waffle Totz at LSC After Dark

Buffalo each at Waffle Totz at LSC After Dark

Whiskey BBQ at Waffle Totz at LSC After Dark

Ma & Pa's Tex Mex BBQ - They were serving three kinds of tacos made with a homemade tortilla that was superb. There was a veggie taco, a chicken taco and my favorite: a brisket taco that was addictive, being very flavorful, the brisket being delicious.

Veggie taco at Ma & Pa's Tex Mex BBQ at LSC After Dark

Chicken taco at Ma & Pa's Tex Mex BBQ at LSC After Dark

Brisket taco at Ma & Pa's Tex Mex BBQ at LSC After Dark

On the sweet side was Pick a Bonbon, that makes Amegrideiros or American Brigadeiros, homemade Brazilian inspired bonbons that just around 100 calories! Colorful, they were all delicious although a bit sweet, but probably because I tried them all...There was The colorful Unicorn with sprinkles on top, The Peachy-B that is a Peach Bellini (minus the booze), The Figazzi with Fig and rose water, The O.G. that is full of chocolate.

Pick a Bonbon at LSC After Dark at Liberty Science Center, Jersey City

Peachy-B from Pick a Bonbon at LSC After Dark

The unicorn from Pick a Bonbon at LSC After Dark

Sampler from Pick a Bonbon at LSC After Dark

The Figazzi at Pick a Bonbon at LSC After Dark

The OG from Pick a Bonbon at LSC After Dark

But it would not be complete without some liquid nitrogen and we got to try two things: The mucus margarita (Remember: it is for the Grossology exhibit!), made with tequila, lime juice, simple syrup and orange liqueur. Very good, I never thought I would ever say: "Can I have a mucus margarita, please?".

Then was the liquid nitrogen ice cream from Cryo Cream: it was a nitro-affogato and Dragon's breath ice cream with a toasted marshmallow and a graham cracker, like an interpretation of S'mores, but with the wow effect of the liquid nitrogen!

Liquid nitrogen ice cream from Cryo Cream at LSC After Dark

So we had a fantastic time at LSC After Dark: I think it is great that The Liberty Science Center organizes these evenings where you can meet people, eat, drink, have a good time, and at the same time, have access to the exhibits that are always fun and educational.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

I Just Want To Eat! 8/17/18 I Just Want To Eat! 8/17/18

Hot'n Juicy Crawfish in NYC, NY

Boasting 13 locations across the US, Hot’n Juicy Crawfish serves seafood creole and Cajun style. Yes, seafood and mainly seafood. If you do not like it or are allergic, unless you are ready to eat corn, rice and potatoes, this place is not for you. But if you like crab, crawfish, shrimp or lobster, it is a fun experience. Notice the way I put it and understand that when I say a “fun experience” it means that I personally would not go often there, prices being high considering what ends up in your belly once you eliminate the shells that make up most of the weight of the food you order.

Dining room at Hot'n Juicy Crawfish in NYC, NY

I started of with ordering a Brooklyn Lager draft beer:

Blue Point oysters at Hot'n Juicy Crawfish in NYC, NY

Then, I got half a dozen blue point oysters that were quite good and tasting fresh.

Oysters at Hot'n Juicy Crawfish in NYC, NY

Oyster at Hot'n Juicy Crawfish in NYC, NY

At the same time came a bucket, a bib and some plastic gloves for the crawfish and crab I ordered. I appreciated the fact that they gave several pairs of gloves as one was definitely not enough to go through the lunch. And there was the bib: you may think twice before refusing to wear it because you would look ridiculous. Yes, if you walk like that in the street you would certainly look ridiculous if not crazy. But, in this kind of restaurant, mostly everybody is wearing it and everybody understands that you have to choose between wearing it or sacrificing your shirt! So who cares?

Bucket, bib and gloves at Hot'n Juicy Crawfish in NYC, NY

The first thing that came out was the pound of crawfish ($15/lb). I asked to have it with garlic butter, mild. I forgot to mention that you have to choose the sauce and the spiciness of it. Loving butter, I did not hesitate, although I admit that with the amount of garlic it had I will be protected from vampires for the next three months...As far as the spiciness is concerned, mild was fine: it had a slight kick at first, but it built up in my mouth as I was eating. The crawfish was good, well cooked.

Crawfish at Hot'n Juicy Crawfish in NYC, NY

Next was the blue crab ($15/lb). 1 pound is equivalent to three crabs. They looked good and were good, but you do not get much meat in it and would probably need to order 3 or 4 pounds to be satisfied. I chose the exact same sauce as for the crawfish.

Blue crab at Hot'n Juicy Crawfish in NYC, NY

So overall it was good, but I left a bit hungry. I would go back there for fun, but not if I am craving seafood. For that, I would go to The Lobster Place in Chelsea Market: pricey but more satisfying.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

hot’n Juicy Crawfish - 243 W 14th St, New York, NY 10011

I Just Want To Eat! 8/15/18 I Just Want To Eat! 8/15/18

Poor service at Big Daddy's Diner

I love diners: they represent something I associated with the US during my childhood as I watched a lot of American series where there would be a scene at a booth, as characters were enjoying milkshakes (introduced in France by MacDonald’s and Ben & Jerry’s) or burgers (well also introduced by fast food chains although when a kid I did not like ground meat and always settled for a filet’o fish...). So I was excited to try Big Daddy’s Diner near Union Square: the neon and walls covered with American TV series names, singers, etc, giving a particular feel to the place.

Dining room at Big Daddy's Diner in NYC, NY

Trivial Pursuit cards at Big Daddy's Diner in NYC, NY

Comfort food for sure, but comfort only on the menu. We should have had a hint when it took them time to seat us: at least they should have acknowledged we were there and let us know they had to clean a table first. Quite basic. Then, the food was subpar: Jodi had a vegetarian burger that was mushy and my Mac ‘n Grilled cheese was horrible; it looked more like two pieces of toasted bread with a bit of Mac and cheese in between. When you think about grilled cheese, you think about bread grilled on a skillet in butter and delicious charred cheese. There, they promise on their menu some oozing cheese sauce: they did not deliver.

Mac'n grilled cheese at Big Daddy's Diner in NYC, NY

Veggie burger at Big Daddy's Diner in NYC, NY

At least the fries and tater tots were good, but I am sure I can do the same job with frozen products...

Tater tots at Big Daddy's Diner in NYC, NY

French fries at Big Daddy's Diner in NYC, NY

The service was also not good: they did not check on us, forgot to bring utensils and took forever to take our order or bring the food (the bill came faster though and fortunately, they had Trivial Pursuit cards at the table to let time pass), to the point that we decided to forget about dessert as it would have taken to so long that my parents would have alerted the authorities wondering where I was! Too bad: we wanted to try the S’mores waffles that looked promising and hopefully would have been a bit of a highlight. So the experience at Big Daddy’s Diner is unforgettable in a forgettable place where I am not ready to go back soon.

Enjoy (the post only)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Big Daddy’s Diner- 239 Park Avenue South, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 8/13/18 I Just Want To Eat! 8/13/18

Dinner at Café Boulud

After our incredible meal at Daniel, the eponymous restaurant of acclaimed Chef Daniel Boulud, we were looking forward to dining at Café Boulud, located at The Surrey Hotel on the Upper East Side. Boasting one Michelin Star, Café Boulud celebrates 20 years of existence in what used to be Daniel’s original location and is a nod to the Chef’s family run restaurant in Lyon (just so you know, Lyon is considered the capital of French gastronomy, although I am sure some people would disagree). The menu, prepared by Chef Aaron Bludorn, is very interesting, declined in four sections:
- La Tradition (no need to translate) is about French classic dishes, elevated.
- La Saison (The Season), this time Summer, seasonal and local produces.
- Le Potager (The Garden), vegetarian dishes.
- Le Voyage explores cuisines of the world with a French twist. This time it was Mexican as it was the first voyage celebrated 20 years ago when the restaurant opened.
They also had a special menu for La fête de Bayonne, to celebrate basque cuisine, but it is for all the table and, as Jodi is vegetarian, we dismissed it, most of the dishes being non-vegetarian. And to continue on the celebration theme, they had a live band that payed some nice music, not too loud, allowing us to have some conversation without having to shout.

I should also mention their beverage list: lots of wine and interesting cocktails, and, to my delight, a nice selection of whisky, where the only complaint I have is the limited choices when it comes to a French whisky. I know that some may be surprised by this comment, but France has quite an extensive production of whisky, being a large cereal producer, and what great ambassador than a such an acclaimed Chef! The one I chose was a Rozelieures single malt smoked, that was indeed smokey like I like them, but less than an Ardberg Scotch. I liked it and would love to find a bottle (the search is on).

Whisky Rozelieures at Café Boulud in NYC, NY

Before I talk about our meal, let’s talk about their bread that blew me away when dining at Daniel. As a reminder, they make their own bread at their commissary, for all their restaurants. But, the breads are not the same. At Café Boulud, I got to try: the sourdough, the rosemary, the walnut and the pumpkin bread. All very good and very addictive with butter...

Sourdough bread at Café Boulud in NYC, NY

Rosemary bread at Café Boulud in NYC, NY

They started by bringing us an amuse: arancini with green peas and mozzarella. Delicious start for sure.

Arancini amuse at Café Boulud in NYC, NY

As an appetizer, Jodi ordered the tomato salad made with Eckerton Hill Farm tomatoes, robiola nonno (a soft and creamy cheese), sourdough, basil pesto and cherry vinegar.

On my side, I chose the seared foie gras that was served on top of a brioche doughnut with apricot, almond streusel and ginger. I loved it: the foie was delightfully fatty, melting in my mouth. I loved the brioche doughnut that is a nice touch, different from the usual brioche and with a more dense texture that is perfect with the foie, and the apricot that added some sweetness to the dish.

Seared foie gras at Café Boulud in NYC, NY

For her entree, Jodi tried their sweet corn risotto, made with chanterelles mushrooms, Pecorino Romano, tarragon and vanilla oil. I thought it was a great idea to propose an appetizer size for it especially considering that Jodi has a small appetite...not like me! The risotto was succulent: creamy, the rice had a nice bite and I loved the wonderful sweetness from the corn.

For me, it was simple: although I hesitated between the lamb and the duck, I decided to make it an all duck meal (except dessert of course). So I went for the Crescent Farm duck, served with peach, natural jus and some white grits and pecan crumb. There was a nice amount of duck that was perfectly cooked medium, not dry and with a skin that was deliciously fatty and very slightly crispy. I loved it. The grits were a tiny portion but they were so good I could have eaten more, even if I started to be full and really wanted to have dessert.

And so yes, we got dessert and what a way to finish this superb meal! It was the molten chocolate cake weigh vanilla ice cream. That cake was one of the best I had: the center was, as expected, liquid. I hate when you ask for a molten cake and it is overcooked. Not at Café Boulud and we were in heaven. If you love chocolate, do not miss it.

Molten chocolate cake at Café Boulud in NYC, NY

After all of this and as we were waiting for the check, they brought us some raspberry chocolates, as well as the same madeleines they served us at Daniel. This was a challenge to my full stomach because I could not stop eating them: they are so good!

Raspberry chocolate at Café Boulud in NYC, NY

Our dinner at Café Boulud was great: the food was good and I liked the atmosphere with the band. I think it is very smart from them to have a menu that is not just French classics, and offers options like Le Voyage, ensuring that people come back from time to time to check out the creativity of the Chef. Chapeau Chef Boulud!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Café Boulud - 20 East 76th Street., Upper East Side, NY 10021

I Just Want To Eat! 8/12/18 I Just Want To Eat! 8/12/18

Product launch event: Bazodee sauces at Minton's Playhouse in Harlem

Last Tuesday, I was invited at Minton's Playhouse in Harlem for the launch of the Bazodee line of sauces, a set of Caribbean sauces from Mavis Foods, LLC. I love the story of this company: it all started with Ms. Mavis Davis, the daughter of a family of 12 children who has been cooking since she was 13 years old, complaining about the family not cooking and losing the legacy of the Caribbean and Venezuelan dishes carried from one generation to the other. That is how Bazodee, that means crazy, head over heels in love in Trinidad and Tobago, started.

Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!

Mavis Davis and Debra Sandler from Mavis Foods, LLC

I got the opportunity to meet them at the event as well as try some of the family recipes made with their sauces:

The Marvelous Marinade, made with green herbs and seasonings.
The Soca sauce, made with vegetables, peppers and seasonings.
The Hot Hot Soca sauce, made with the Trinidad Scorpion pepper, one of the most piquant peppers in the world.

Here is what I tried:

Orzo with mango salad made with the Bazodee Marvelous Marinade:

Chicken with Angel hair pasta made with the Bazodee Marvelous Marinade:

Tomato salad made with the Bazodee Marvelous Marinade:

Tomato salad Chicken with Angel hair pasta made with the Bazodee Marvelous Marinade

Shrimp ceviche made with Bazodee Hot Hot Soca sauce:

Accra, codfish cakes:

As a drink, I got the Planters Punch made with Cannes Brûlées Classic Rum, pineapple, citrus juice, bitters and grenadine juice.

The food, prepared by Executive Chef Martin Little, was delicious and I could not believe how most of these dishes were so simple. I should also mention the venue: Minton's Playhouse is an institution. Minton's Playhouse is a jazz club that was founded by tenor saxophonist Henry Minton in 1938. It is famous for its role in the development of modern jazz, also known as bebop, where artists like Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Kenny Clarke, Charlie Christian, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie performed. It closed in 1974 and then reopened few years after few tries in 2013. I loved the atmosphere there as well as the old black and white photos of the artists who created such a legend.

Dining room at Minton's Playhouse in Harlem, NY

It was a great event and I loved the food and concept created by Mavis Foods, LLC. I will for sure try to make these recipes and others with the Bazodee sauces that were in the press kit!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Minton's Playhouse - 206 W 118th Street, New York, NY 10026

I Just Want To Eat! 8/10/18 I Just Want To Eat! 8/10/18

Ikinari Steak, Japanese Steakhouse

I recently went to Ikinari Steak, the Japanese chain with few locations in New York where steaks are cut to order and customers are supposed to eat standing. For the latter, if you go to the location midtown, you will be properly seated. However, it is true that they cut the meat to order, with limited choices: ribeye, filet, sirloin and a cut I never heard about called wild steak that the waitress was not able to explain.

Dining room at  Ikinari Steak in NYC, NY — Dining room at Ikinari Steak in NYC, NY

Table number at Ikinari Steak in NYC, NY

The way it works there is that they seat you at a table that has a number. If it is your first time, they will tell you that they only take orders for sides like soup, salads, garlic pepper rice or mashed potatoes. For steaks, you need to go at the kitchen counter: you choose the cut, the size (the ribeye was $1.6/oz, a good price) and tell them how you want it cooked. You then tell them if you want different sides with the steak such as potatoes or broccoli, the standard being corn and onions (you can substitute and every additional side is just $1).

They told me the steak should take 10 to 15 minutes to come: it took close to 30 minutes. When it comes, I put on a bib that was definitely necessary considering the projections that came out of the piping hot skillet when I poured their signature sauce (and I was wearing a white shirt that day!). The plate smelled really good and the steak was well cooked, medium rare, with a nice char. It was juicy and very tender, but had a bit too much fat. I should mention that all steaks are wet-aged for 40 days.

I also got a glass of sake to accompany my steak. I picked the Ume-Rosé that is made with plum ume sake. It was a bit too sweet for my taste, although they mentioned that it is “no sugar added”.

Ume Rose sake at Ikinari Steak in NYC, NY

Overall it was a good meal and despite the long time it took for my steak to come I would go back. I found the meat quite good and prices reasonable for this quality of meat considering how much you have to pay in a Steakhouse. It is a cool concept, but, I would avoid if your co-dinners are vegetarian, the vegetarian options being very limited.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Ikinari Steak - 368 West 46th street, New York, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 8/8/18 I Just Want To Eat! 8/8/18

Dinner at Junoon, contemporary Indian

With a name signifying “passion”, there is added pressure for Junoon to deliver elegant contemporary Indian cuisine. Since opening in 2010, Junoon has been awarded a Michelin Star. Yes, 7 years: not a small accomplishment for a cuisine that is sometimes misunderstood. It has been a while since we wanted to go, but the list of restaurants on my list being what it is, it was often postponed: I regret it. The food crafted by Executive Chef Akshay Bardhwaj being superb, creative and beautifully plated. It is served in a nice atmosphere where the only negative is the light: it is so dimmed you cannot eat with your eyes.

But before I talk about the food, let’s talk about their cocktails: at Junoon, Mixologist Hemant Pathak created interesting combinations with herbs, spices and tea from Asia. But what was really funny is their “Game of Thrones” section that has cocktails like Arya Stark, Little Finger, Mother of Dragons or Jon Snow. I decided to go for the latter that was made with Cognac, Ardberg 10 year old Scotch, Carpano Antica, crème de cacao à la vanille, bitters and a spiced smoke for an additional smokiness and for the show. This was delicious and a must have if you like whisky, smokey whisky.

For the dinner, we decided to go for their 3 course meal that, for $75, is a good deal for this type of restaurant. Jodi started with the Lahsooni Gobi, a crispy cauliflower with a tomato, garlic and chili chutney.

On my side, I chose the tandoori octopus as I did not think I saw octopus on an Indian menu before, and thought it would be interesting. It was served with arugula, almond and a mango vinaigrette. It was really good, although at the beginning I thought that the octopus was too soft; but, the almonds added the required texture. I also liked the mango vinaigrette that gave a nice fruitiness to the dish.

With our appetizers came three chutneys: pineapple, bok choy kimchi (my favorite, a bit spicy) and spicy tomato.

For her main, Jodi got the mushroom medley Khichdi, that was served with an asparagus puree and masoor dal.

On my side, I went for the lamb, hesitating a bit with the tandoori squab. The three lamb chops were perfectly cooked medium, juicy and smothered in spices that had a very slight kick that let the meat shine. It was sitting on a mushroom purée that was delicious.

With our entrées came some rice, yellow lentils (dal tadka) and black lentils (dal makhni), as well as some naan bread. The quantity of dal seemed small, especially considering it was very good, noticeably the dal makhni that was very creamy, but, finally, taking into account the rest of the meal, it was perfect as at the end I was full. The naan though was amazing: the butter naan was quite classic, but the cheese naan was incredible: it had so much cheese in it (there was gruyère cheese in it) that it was like an Indian grilled cheese rather than a bread to accompany your meal. It is a must have!

For dessert, I went for the drunken Shahi Tukra, a saffron cake with Amrut rum. It was good, but I admit I was expecting a sort of Indian version of a baba au rhum that I love so much.

Jodi ordered the Ma’s Rice pudding that I preferred, being nicely sweet with a nice crunch from the almonds.

With the check, they brought us some pistachio chocolate biscuits that were very good, slightly crunchy.

Pistachio chocolate biscuit at Junoon in NYC, NY

This as a great meal: the food was good as was the service, the staff making sure we enjoyed our dinner. Like Indian Accent, Junoon redefines Indian cuisine, elevating it to a level that truly deserves a Michelin Star. I definitely recommend this place.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Junoon - 27 West 24th Street, Flatiron district, NY 10010